Injuries were the story of Coyle's season. A broken leg suffered when he blocked a shot in mid-October cost him 16 games, and while he looked more like his usual self after his return, scoring 15 points in the next 22 games, by January issues with both wrists had rendered him a non-factor down the stretch and into the playoffs. Coyle underwent offseason surgery on his wrist tendons and is expected to be 100 percent by training camp, but a slow start in 2018-19 might bump him out of the top six entirely. The 26-year-old could be effective on a checking line, as his offensive game is based more on using his size to bully his way into open ice rather than skating past people, but he'll need to prove himself before he should be considered a serious threat for 20 goals or 50 points again. Read Past Outlooks

$Signed a five-year, $16 million contract extension with the Wild in October of 2014. Traded to the Bruins in February of 2019.

Helpers galore

RWBoston Bruins

May 12, 2019

Coyle collected a trio of assists in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in a 6-2 win over Carolina on Sunday.

ANALYSISThe Bruins forward has found the scoresheet in three straight games, totalling five points over that span. The three helpers in Game 2 -- one of which came on a Boston power play -- moves Coyle up to 12 points through 15 playoff games.

Jason Chen provides his picks for a Thursday Flex contest featuring Game 1 of the Bruins-Hurricanes series.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

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The good news for Coyle is that he’s improved his point totals in each of his four full seasons in the league (30, 35, 42, 56), and the great news is that the 2010 first-round pick still has a lot more room to grow. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Coyle combined with Eric Staal to form a towering offensive duo in a conference that tends to play a more physical game, and the two finished fifth and second in team scoring, respectively. Though Coyle was drafted as a center, he’s looked very comfortable on the right wing, quietly becoming one of the league’s most impressive big-bodied playmakers. He fell back a bit to 18 goals despite his career-high point total last season, but Coyle is a strong candidate to return to his 20-goal ways and clear 60 points with a first-line role on tap.

Coyle’s steadily improved year after year in the NHL, and as he grows into his role as the Wild’s top-line right wing of the future, the 2010 first-round pick should be a legitimate threat to hit 50 points for the first time in his age-24 season. His success during a disappointing 2015-16 for the Wild offers plenty of positive indicators for how he’ll do when the team sees better days, as he set new career marks with 21 goals and 42 points last year while playing with the kind of physical edge any team’s fans can appreciate, racking up 131 hits. A strong, hard-working winger who’s equally useful on both ends of the ice, Coyle also has the touch to rack up both goals and assists, and big minutes alongside Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise will offer no shortage of opportunities for him to do just that.

Coyle continued his development in 2014-15, playing in all 82 games, setting career bests in assists (24) and points (35), and finishing with a plus-13 rating. Despite those achievements, Coyle found difficulty earning increased responsibilities, as he noticed a huge dip in ice time from the season before, dropping from an average of 17:05 to 14:33. Coyle is stuck playing in the bottom six thanks to Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund centering the top two lines, but that's not to say he's been skating next to scrubs on the third line, either. There's a good chance that at some point, Coyle will see extended action alongside Thomas Vanek and Jason Zucker, both of whom would give the center two high-quality snipers to set up. At just 23 years old, the best is probably still to come for the Boston University product, even if the opportunity isn't necessarily there to begin the upcoming season.

The 22-year-old winger continued to grow last season, notching 12 goals and 18 assists over 70 games. The turning point for Coyle appeared to be his closed-door meeting in the second half with coach Mike Yeo, who requested that the forward rediscover his physical game. Coyle did exactly that, and unsurprisingly, his late-season and his postseason performances -- prior to playing with two separated shoulders -- was outstanding. He's probably played himself into Minnesota's top-six forwards, a group that is going to be even stronger in 2014-15. But his role in that group could still be at risk because of his skills on both ends of the ice, unlike the defensively-challenged Nino Niederreiter, who struggles in his own zone. As a result, it could mean that Coyle is the one who might be trusted on the third line. If Coyle is able to remain in a top-six role for the bulk of the season, a true breakout year could be on the horizon. At this point, it’s most prudent to watch camp closely and see how the lines might shake out. Otherwise, stick Coyle at the end of the bench for your fantasy squad and hope for fireworks.

Coyle had a strong rookie debut with 14 points in 37 games after the Wild acquired him in a pre-season trade with the Sharks. He's a hard-working forward that can deliver scoring and dish the puck when he chooses. He could make a big improvement in his second season as he may cement his role on a top line.

We can't wait for the day when Minny's top line includes Zach Parise on the left side, Mikael Granlund in the middle and Mr. Charlie Coyle on the right. Coyle has already dominated the QMJHL and has everything he needs -- size, skill, speed, strength, smarts and sandpaper -- to do the same in the NHL. He's a natural center, but we get shivers when we think of him on the wing. Think David Backes and then add a bit more offense. Yes, he's that good. He won't have a full-time gig with the Wild until next season. But he needs to be stashed in keeper formats -- act now or forever hold your peace.

Coyle, originally drafted by the Sharks in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry draft, was traded to the Wild this past offseason as part of the Devin Setoguchi/Brent Burns swap. Last season, the power forward brought his offensive touch to Boston College, where he posted 26 points (7 G, 19 A) as a freshman. Coyle is a relatively unfamiliar name in fantasy circles, but that figures to change as the mega prospect should have little trouble working his way up the ranks.

The Sharks circled a lamp-lighting power forward with the 28th pick of the 2010 Entry Draft, nabbing Coyle at that spot. Just as his famed uncle Tony Amonte once did, Coyle will play for Boston University in 2010-11. He'll be fun to watch at Boston, but he shouldn't be in your peripherals just yet.

More Fantasy News

Comes up huge in Game 1 win

RWBoston Bruins

April 25, 2019

Coyle finished with two goals, including the game-winner, as Boston defeated Columbus 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Thursday.